Thursday, April 8, 2010

This week began with the start of a new Global Volunteers team in Tutova, and my fourth week here with the children on this trip. We have had nine volunteers this week, but three will be heading home to the U.S. on Saturday. Our orientation day happened to be on Easter, and we were able to participate in a Romanian Easter tradition involving cracking hard boiled eggs against each other until one person is left with a whole egg. After a good run by Amanda, our winner was John, our youngest teammate. Some of us were also able to view a midnight candlelit walk to the town cemetery by the village people on the night we arrived (Easter morning). Romanians celebrate three days of Easter, lasting Sunday-Tuesday. Wednesday was National Healthcare Workers Day, so the many of the staff members at the hospital were given the day off then as well. Let's just say the new volunteers were pros at multitasking and feeding multiple children at once within our first few days! We have also been very lucky the past few days to be able to take many of the children outside. The children love exploring the hospital grounds and resting on blankets in the sun!

Some events that past volunteers may be interested in:-Denisa Elena went home with her mom-Sammy will be leaving for the CPS institution in Barlad as early as next week-Andrei will be going home with his mom soon-Daria Roxana's mom has visited three times in the last week-Andreea's family on her father's side visited on Easter Monday-Ionela is doing very well back with her family

At this point the doctors here say they are not able to put in a shunt to drain the fluid, there has been too much damage. The fluid does cause pressure, and can be painful at times; She does better in some positions than others. We do however get lots of smiles out of her these days :)

I'd absolutely love to volunteer in a Romanian orphanage and many other places. Problem is the flight fare is already more than I can afford let alone the actual fee you have to pay to the organisation (and vaccinations, travel insurance etc). Maybe one day I'll save up and be able to go.

Leave Your Mark on the World!

Global Volunteers is a private, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization working at the invitation and under the direction of local leaders to deliver the 12 Essential Services to partner communities worldwide.Learn more about us here: Global Volunteers